Key to Aenictus laeviceps group species

The following worker key is based on Jaitrong, W. & Yamane, S. 2011. Synopsis of Aenictus species groups and revision of the A. currax and A. laeviceps groups in the eastern Oriental, Indo-Australian, and Australasian regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Aenictinae). Zootaxa, 3128, 1–46. PDF

You might be interested in

• Aenictus species groups (diagnoses)
• Key to Aenictus species groups
• The Aenictus genus page.

1

• Pronotum extensively sculptured, the sculpture may be very superficial or represented by dense punctation . . . . . 2

• Pronotum largely smooth and shiny, only anteriormost portion finely punctate . . . . . 3

2

return to couplet #1

• Entire pronotum finely and densely recticulate and opaque; larger species (HW 0.90–0.95) (Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand) . . . . . Aenictus binghamii

• Pronotum very superficially reticulate and somewhat shiny (dorsum almost smooth); smaller species (HW 0.63–0.70) (Thailand) . . . . . Aenictus siamensis

3

return to couplet #1

• Vertex with only two long standing hairs . . . . . 4

• Vertex with some shorter standing hairs in addition to two long hairs . . . . . 7

4

return to couplet #3

• Promesonotum with more than 4 standing hairs mixed with short hairs over the surface; dorsum of propodeum with several short hairs (Thailand, Borneo) . . . . . Aenictus sonchaengi

• Promesonotum with 0–4 standing hairs; dorsum of propodeum without hairs . . . . . 5

5

return to couplet #4

• Propodeum entirely or partly smooth, or very superficially sculptured, and shiny (Java) . . . . . Aenictus breviceps

• Propodeum entirely sculptured . . . . . 6

6

return to couplet #5

• Petiole shorter than high or almost as long as high (Brunei, Sarawak and Sabah) . . . . . Aenictus rotundicollis

• Petiole distinctly longer than high (Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, Sumatra, Java, and Philippines) . . . . . Aenictus laeviceps

7

return to couplet #3

• Propodeum entirely sculptured, or rarely with a small smooth area near spiracle (Sabah) . . . . . Aenictus montivagus

• Propodeum extensively smooth and shiny; at most the dorsum superficially sculptured and rather shiny . . . . . 8

8

return to couplet #7

• Mesopleuron in at least lower portion smooth and shiny . . . . . 9

• Mesopleuron entirely densely sculptured . . . . . 11

9

return to couplet #8

• Subpetiolar process low, without anterior angle, ventrally with a spiniform appendage directed downward and backward (Malay Peninsula, Borneo) . . . . . Aenictus fulvus

• Subpetiolar process low and anteriorly angulate; the ventral appendage not spiniform . . . . . 10

10

return to couplet #9

• Larger species (HW 0.80–0.85 mm); ventral appendage of subpetiolar process high, subtriangular; scape index: 100–106 (Philippines) . . . . . Aenictus alticola

• Smaller species (HW 0.78 mm); ventral appendage of subpetiolar process rudimentary, with highest point at anterior portion; scape index: 94–97 (Philippines) . . . . . Aenictus luzoni

11

return to couplet #8

• Femora entirely smooth and shiny (Sumatra) . . . . . Aenictus bodongjaya

• Femora partly shagreened . . . . . 12

12

return to couplet #11

• Petiole shorter than high and slightly smaller than post petiole (Sulawesi) . . . . . Aenictus brevinodus

• Petiole distinctly longer than high and slightly larger than postpetiole (Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Bali, Lombok) . . . . . Aenictus hodgsoni